Happy New Year and happy Feast of the Nativity!
Today’s is the first issue of Watani in 2019, and tomorrow, 7 January, Egypt and the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrate the glorious Nativity of the Christ, the feast of love and peace. On this day we remember the birth of Baby Jesus in the manger, and how through Him the Lord reconciled with humankind and reclaimed men and women to Himself. Although divine justice judged that the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6: 23), divine love and mercy arranged for the salvation of humanity and confirmed the will of God Who “desires that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2: 4). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3: 16). Let us rejoice because we have acquired the free gift of Life without meriting it, but through God’s love and grace.
On this day I express my heartfelt wishes for a happy Feast of the Nativity to the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, our loving and wise pastor His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, as well as all Coptic metropolitans, bishops, members of the clergy, and the congregation. I also extend sincere greetings to our dearly loved heads, pastors and congregations of the Catholic and Evangelical Churches in Egypt. I pray that the Heavenly Father would protect Egypt and bless her children, also that He would pave the road for Egypt to attain development and progress in goodness, love and peace.
Watani International
6 January 2018